Candy Bones Read online

  Oz drops the broom. He tucks my hair behind my ears, which I normally hate because I have giant Dumbo ears, but I seem to be frozen by his gaze. Every time he looks at me this way it seems I can’t escape. I’m no longer Reaper, Death, Destroyer of Worlds. In his gaze, I’m the rabbit, he’s the fox, and I’m internally begging him to pounce with every gallop of my heart. Oz places his rough callused palms on either side of my face.

  “In the entirety of my existence I have never met a creature as genuinely ravishingly beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. I have very conflicting urges right now and all of them involve claiming you in one way or another.”

  My face heats up.

  “Did I just make death herself blush?” He smiles.

  I suck my teeth. My face positively burns. “Yeah, you did. So, are you going to keep bragging about it or are you going to kiss me?”

  Oz leans in until his lips just barely brush mine. “Both.”

  This non-nuit, or werewolf, or whatever he is, is going to be the absolute death of me. My heart pounds as he circles me in his embrace with a kiss that could light the moon on fire.

  His hand moves up to my face and I notice something on his forearm. “Wait,” I say pulling away, “What’s that tattoo?”

  He holds up his arm. It’s some kind of bird standing on the earth with an anchor behind it.

  “It’s the marine’s emblem.”

  “Oh. Do only marines get them?” I ask.

  “Yep. Is it important?”

  I shake my head. “Not important enough to stop kissing.”

  His lips meet mine, but still in the back of my mind I can’t help but think it looks like the tattoo I saw on the monkey demon.

  Oz suddenly pulls out of the kiss this time, “Hey! Speaking of arms, I just realized, where’s your sling?”

  “Caw, caw!” Bran laughs from the other room.

  I throw my head back. “Ugh!”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “I think we’ve been attacking this thing all wrong,” Counsel Hawthorn says. “Because something is not adding up. Now this nocturnus is getting larger demons through. How? We have to be missing something.”

  “I agree,” Eris says.

  The truth is we all agree. Xavina got a hold of me a few days after we met. She told me that there are few old high society families that could even possibly cast conduit spells and most of them are dead. To pull off a spell of that kind it would take an entire coven or two working together. A coven has anywhere from six to thirteen members. This isn’t one person doing this, this is many, a group, like us.

  “You know if I didn’t know better, and I do, I would think it was nostrae nocte doing this.”

  “Not this again,” Dante groans.

  I hold up a hand, “No, you don’t understand. I do know better. I also know whomever is doing this seems to have a lot in common with us. Whoever it is, is organized, dedicated. They’re not intimidated by going against nocturnus society rules. I mean they had to dig up some seriously old magic to rip a hole to the underworld and pull demons through. That must have taken time. Anything that would take that much time would take just as much motive. The attacks around town seem random, but what if they weren’t? What if this is some sort of organized group with an ideology, a nefarious plan, and a lot more magic than we do?”

  “You mean like an anti-nostrae nocte?” Eris asks.

  “Even non-nuit have cabals that form to create chaos and fear. I know for a fact the nostrae nocte of the past have come up against such likes before.”

  “Say we are dealing with a cabal, that means thus far they know more about us than we do them. Anonymity gives them a freedom and a power that the rest of us don’t have,” Counsel Hawthorn says. “We need to lure them out.”

  I smile, “Eris, do you know of any potions that could knock out a demon, because if so, I have a great terrible idea.”

  “I’m pretty sure that is the only kind of ideas you have,” Eris says plainly.

  “Wanna come make some candy?” I make a kissy face at her.

  A few hours later I’m standing at the end of Hemlock Alley. The rest of the nostrae nocte are hidden about awaiting my signal. My pockets are stuffed full of the demon candy. That’s what I’m naming it anyways. Strapped to my thigh is the demon knife as well. I should probably look closer at the weapons Grandma Anya has in the artifacts room to see if she has any more of these.

  “I feel like a pinata,” I say into my mic.

  “If you end up dead, I’m going to treat you like one,” Eris warns. “I can’t be sure this will knock out a gallu or whatever attacks you.”

  “I might just like it,” I mock at her.

  “Is it just me or is this the best conversation ever?” Tre says into the mic.

  “It’s just you,” Oz growls.

  Bran is sitting on the edge of a streetlamp keeping a bird’s eye view of things. As soon as he runs away, I’ll know the demons are coming. I decide to talk to him like I would if I were out reaping.

  “Hey Bran, I’ve been thinking of updating your wardrobe. What would you say to wearing a felt vest and fedora?”

  “Caw!” he says angrily. I keep pacing the alley.

  “What about an ascot?” I ask him.

  No response.

  “So, you’re not opposed to an ascot. Good! You would look pretty regal, in a nice hot pink color.” I wait for him to start yelling at me. Still nothing. I glance up at the lamp post. Bran is no where to be seen. “Chicken,” I say.

  “Wraith,” Eris’ voice comes through the earwig. “Look up.”

  I do. One of those monkey things is sitting on the roof glaring at me.

  “Ugh, not you again,” I complain. “You owe me a new phone.”

  The beast hisses. It drops down into the alley in front of me. I move left to right slowly in a half circle. No matter how I move it stays directly across from me keeping it’s mouth open. I debate just tossing some candy in its gaping maw, but I doubt that will work again. Instead I stick my hand slowly inside my jacket.

  “Should we go?” Someone asks. I shake my head no.

  I can’t have them come out until it lunges. My fingers wrap securely around my weapon of choice. I quickly whip out the giant demon lollipop and lunge towards the beast. It hisses, snapping its jaws around the big round sucker. Its teeth shatter the candy which is meant to dissolve on contact with the saliva.

  The monkey jumps back from me shaking its head back and forth. “Now!” I yell. The rest of the group storms all around us.

  The beast screams at everyone, as it does its eyes flutter. It falls over.

  “You killed it!” Tre laughs.

  “If all your candy has this effect, remind me not to try it,” Eugene jokes.

  “Oh shut up. It’s alive,” I say. I can see its chest rising and falling, it’s still breathing. It’s unnerving to be so close to it. As quick as I can I tie the note inviting the cabal to meet us tomorrow night at the baseball fields around the unconscious monkey’s neck.

  “Alright let’s go before that thing wakes up,” Tre says. Everyone scatters. Ready to follow the others, I stop remembering the tattoo. As gently as I can I lift the arm. It is a tattoo, faded, distorted but exactly the same tattoo Oz bears. I don’t know why, but I do know this has to be important.

  “Caw, caw, caw!” Bran hollers at me suddenly less afraid now that it’s unconscious.

  “No Bran, Oz is not a clone,” I sigh.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The baseball fields are covered in a thin layer of fog. It reminds me of when the immortals took over. Counsel Hawthorn and Blackburn are here tonight. They weren’t around last night. Counsel Hawthorn has patrols running the perimeter, so we look like a small group of concerned citizens. When we invited the cabal here, we didn’t announce who we were.

  Before long we hear chanting on the wind.

  A woman walks out of the fog. She’s gorgeous. Skin the color of syrup, surrounded in more fre
ckles than there are stars in the sky. Her eyes are the color and shape of a jungle cat and just as intimidating. She’s draped in blood red silk with gold bangles and clasps, I can’t tell if she dressed specifically for this encounter or not since she seems so comfortable in the silk. She pulls a red hood off of her head releasing thick black hair down her back.

  “Adam,” The woman purrs. “You remember Endley, Barrister, and Jones, your old battle buddies.” She holds out her hands to her three demon monkeys surrounding her. Each with the same military tattoo that Oz has.

  Oz just stares. He doesn’t speak, it’s clear he can’t speak.

  “Who are you?” Counsel Darkblood approaches the woman.

  “Ah you’re one of the local high counsel, aren’t you? I’ve done my research. I felt it high time to introduce myself, officially, to this quaint little town,” she says as if we didn’t just send her the note last night. “You can call me Hellfire. In fact, you can call all of us that.” She smiles and raises her arms. Behind her a group of hooded figures become just barely visible.

  “You’re the coven opening the conduit that’s allowing underworldings to escape?” Counsel Darkblood addresses her.

  The woman weaves her head back and forth as if she’s soaking in his words, “Oh we are so much more than a coven.” She stares at him. “We’re here to bring about some changes. In three moons' time we will be… taking over. We know your gala is happening and we think that would be a perfect time to introduce those that matter in Apres LaMort to the new counsel of sorts.” She raises her hand inspecting her fingernails before flashing her eyes at Counsel Darkblood. “There should be no problems as you are thus far, defenseless against us and our little friends.”

  “And if we don’t agree?” I ask quickly before anyone else can speak.

  “Miss Thanason, this isn’t necessary.” Counsel Darkblood hisses at me.

  I shrug at him. “Maybe it is.”

  She hears my voice. I can tell, because for a moment she freezes. It’s as if to debate with herself whether or not to even respond to me. She slowly moves her gaze down and across the ground, it feels as if she’s painting the trail of her stare, but I do wonder if she might just be surprised to hear any dissention to her demands with demons on her side. Her gaze slides up me, but there’s something behind it I don’t fully understand. She lands finally on my eyes and I can see now why she is asking to be called Hellfire. Inside her feline stare is nothing but pure fire.

  “Wraith Thanason,” she addresses me,. “How … fitting for you to ask me such a question. The answer is simple, we are called Hellfire for a reason and that is exactly what we will reign down on this town if you or any other misguided locals choose dissention over cooperation.”

  “Do I know you?” Her hatred definitely seems personal.

  “No, but I know all about you. Didn’t your grandmother ever teach you not to play with toys that don’t belong to you?”

  She mentioned my grandmother, after stealing Viola, she has the audacity to mention Grandma Anya. Anya would chew a little tart like this up and spit her out. The Thanason part of my brain clicks into full gear. I always was one to keep up with family tradition. “I see, you’re going for the delusional power-hungry thing. You’d think pop culture would have taught you the crazy witch never wins. Come back when your monkeys can fly, then maybe we can take you seriously. Because it looks like right now all you have to offer is a bare mid-drift and friends that, frankly, smell like rotten eggs. Here’s a tip: Sulphur, not a perfume that’s going to catch on.”

  “Adam, she’s got a mouth on her,” she purrs to him. He seemed in a trance until a moment ago, but now his head snaps up in attention. “I guess I can see why you like her. You always did like to flirt with death. Soon you’ll learn that in the long term playing with a cold dead corpse won’t keep you warm at night.”

  “So, this is over a guy? Really? You’re attacking a town with demons because the boyfriend you dumped moved on. How embarrassing for you. I guess the whole desperate hussy look makes sense now. Honey, you’re already gorgeous, you don’t gotta try so hard. It’s sad.” I shrug and glance at Eris who is hiding a smile. I’m waiting for her to jump in at any moment.

  “Mina.” Oz whispers confirming what I had already pieced together. She’s the piece of work who used magic on Oz against his will then abandoned him.

  “You do remember me. Good, because I’m bored with her. If you feel like catching up, just say so and I’ll find you.” She runs a finger under his chin. She turns to the rest of them. “I gave you our warning, what you choose to do with it is up to you. We will see you in three nights.” Mina snaps her fingers and her and all her henchmen mist away.

  “It’s like having Anya here all over again!” Counsel Darkblood snaps at me, “All guts, no brains!”

  “Let’s just stay calm.” Counsel Hawthorn offers. “Oz are you okay? Is there anything you can tell us?”

  Oz doesn’t answer.

  “Calm? She could have gotten us all killed over a catfight.”

  “Actually, Counsel Darkblood, I gleaned plenty of information we didn’t have before. Her name is Mina, she was a necromancer and professional grifter before creating this cabal of sorts. She has a total of thirteen followers, and eleven demons. The three monkeys aren’t demons, or at least they didn’t used to be, they were men. She’s worked some sort of transmogrification spell on them. Which also means she only opened the rift a total of three times and it’s not getting bigger. All of her extra power is currently being used on the conduit spell which Xavina has confirmed is very hard to keep going. It takes a lot of magic. That stands to reason she doesn’t have the power in her coven to open the rift further and let out or control larger demons. She’s more than likely choosing to take over Apres LaMort for person reasons, Oz. But what she’s really here for is to recruit other high society necromancers and witchlings. Beyond that your guess is as good as mine, but I’m thinking replacing the entirety of the high counsels with her cabal is a likely outcome. I almost pulled out my scythe to intimidate her until I realized that would give away our greatest asset, surprise.”

  “If you’re right, she must not know about our weapons.”

  “Exactly, I think her mentioning we’ve thus far been unable to defend ourselves was bait. Which is why I distracted her by a quick challenge to her plans.”

  “Because then we might have challenged her not to come to the gala,” Darkblood adds.

  “Now you’re getting it.”

  “This is good, I think I have a plan,” Counsel Hawthorn says.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Are you okay?” I ask Oz. We went back to the speakeasy to be debriefed by the counsels. It took hours but finally we’re at Grim Sweets. He’s been silent the entire trip.

  “Uh yeah, I just- I need to think.” He runs his hand over his head. “I’m going to head out. I’m not going to be very good company tonight.”

  “If you’re going back to her just tell me,” I finally say. “You were stupefied tonight. We could have used your support. If you’re going to call on her or whatever so she can finish her collection of monkeys I’d like to know now. I don’t want to be blindsided by this.”

  “What?” Oz glares at me “You think I’d… Those were my friends! Do you see what she did to them? All of them I introduced to her. I am the reason they’re like this. This is my fault Wraith, all of this! For once could you not be selfish and realize it isn’t always about you and your feelings!”

  “I told you she’s a monster! I supported you when she abandoned you, she turns your friends into demons, and this is what I get from you? You’ve spoken two words to me since you laid eyes on her! I think anyone would wonder if you weren’t still in love with her. You never talk about her, but when you did, you called her the love of your life! I’m not crazy here, when you tell your girlfriend about your ex who is still the love of your life, a girlfriend is liable to be concerned.”

  “You could a
t least try to hide your obvious jealousy Wraith,” he spits at me.

  I grind my teeth, “Maybe you should tell me if I have a reason to be jealous?”

  He steps back from me. “Honestly, no. Because this,” he points between us, “is over.”

  “Oh surprise, surprise, the woman who used you comes back and suddenly we are over. I guess you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

  Oz steps up to my face his nose almost touching mine, full werewolf rage ripe and ready to explode stares into me, “You know when everyone told me you were a loner, I didn’t understand why. Now I do. Because no one and no spell could make anyone willing to be around someone like you long term. Are you sure you didn’t accidentally reap your own soul long ago? Because when I stare into your eyes, I feel nothing.”

  Tears sting my eyes and spill over down my cheeks, “Leave. Now. Or I’ll show you exactly what it means to have a brush with death.” My entire body shakes.

  Oz turns away from me and runs, for the first time ever I watch him explode into the true monster he is. An angry howl rips from him and echoes through the night.